"There has been heavy rain across the city but it is easing now," Mr Efron said.

"We've already seeing the rain break into showers across the western suburbs and while there has been moderate to heavy rain in central and eastern suburbs this should break into showers towards midnight and even clear in some parts by the early morning."

There was also a significant smattering of rain in Melbourne's CBD, with flash flooding also reported on Dudley Street and Wurundjeri Way earlier on Thursday evening.

Mr Efron said about 17 millimetres of rain had fallen in the CBD by 9pm. It's are expected to dry up by dawn on Friday with a sunny top of 18 degrees forecast.

The downpour caused havoc in some parts of Melbourne with a race meeting called off after heavy rain flooded the track in Melton.

The sudden burst of rain comes after Victoria received more than its average December rainfall in two days.

Further north in Echuca, rain records were smashed, with flooding affecting at least 50 homes and businesses last week.

The town received more than a summer's worth of rain in three days, including 123 millimetres in one night ??? an all-time 24-hour record.